Paul the apostle knew there
were groups of people who would attempt to draw the church members in
Colosse away from the gospel of Jesus Christ by their “philosophy
and vain deceit” which were “after the tradition of men”
and “the rudiments of the world” rather than “after
Christ”. He warned them to “beware” of these
false-teachers, and to keep in mind the truth concerning Jesus Christ
as they encountered these heretics. In chapter two and verse nine of
his letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote of “the fullness of the
Godhead” which is in Christ Jesus where we read:
For in him dwells all
the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
The
verse begins, “For in him dwells...” Paul
continued his thought concerning Jesus fulfilling all that was needed
for salvation by beginning with the word “For” which
means “because or since”, and he goes on to add “in
him dwells” or “abides, is
settled, is inhabited, and lies” the trait he is about to mention.
The
verse continues, “...all the fullness of the Godhead
bodily.” In all-encompassing
and totalitarian status, Paul declares “all the fullness”
which means “abundance, keeping, that which fills or with
which a thing is filled” “of the Godhead” or “deity or
state of being God” “bodily” which means “corporally
and of the exalted spiritual body, visible only to the inhabitants of
heaven”. Everything that God was, is and will be is within Jesus
Christ, and there is nothing that can be added or taken away from
Him. To the Gnostics who denied the deity of Jesus, this was a full
affront to their pernicious and heretical doctrine which denied the
deity of Christ.
As we meditate upon Paul's
words in this verse, we should allow our minds to attempt to imagine
what “all the fullness of the Godhead” really means.
Everything that God is, Jesus contains. He is God who came in the
flesh that He might identify with us, and anything that is needed is
found in Him. When we come into a relationship with Jesus Christ, we
encounter the one in whom all the fullness of God dwells. Let us
allow the Holy Spirit of God to make and keep this idea prevalent in
our minds and hearts as we face our difficulties and struggles every
day, and may the peace of knowing that He has everything we need
allow our minds to rest upon the completeness which is found in Him.
Next
time Paul tells the Colossians about being complete in Jesus,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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